Things I did in recovery pt. 1

I got creative with my meal plans.

Say I needed a starch, a fat, a dairy, and a vegetable. Who needs ordinary pasta? I would have pasta with cheese, beans, sauce, and a veggie. I switched it up! I created variety, with what appeared strict.

I stopped weighing myself after it wasn’t necessary anymore.

There was a time in my life when I did have to weigh myself frequently in order for my team to know if my structured meal plan was working or if I needed more food to build up a healthy weight. But, when I noticed myself becoming obsessed with the results and becoming disappointed with the numbers I saw I stopped looking. I didn’t NEED to know a number, and the number didn’t own me anymore. If I felt good and medically was considered healthy and I felt good in my body that’s all that mattered.

I challenged food rules or views for the time being

Growing up, soda was “bad”. However, there was a place in time where I drank soda every day. Is this a habit I would like to cultivate forever? No, but, for a time, it was a quick way to drink my calories and get me one step closer to my goal.

I got excited over my new first times

This is important. Let yourself get excited for your accomplishments. The first time I had a donut in almost a decade I couldn’t believe what I was eating. It was incredible and I made sure everyone around me knew how absolutely fantastic a donut was. The first time I went out to eat with friends? Wow, so so special.

I bought clothes to fit me instead of trying to fit in to clothes I had outgrown

Since treatment, I have changed my wardrobe and style of my closet multiple times. If I am uncomfortable with something I get rid of it. If I start to have negative thoughts about my body appearance I question whether this is me OR if maybe this style of clothes just isn’t the most flattering on my body type.

I made foods I enjoyed more calorically dense to hit two birds with one stone

Have you ever tried iced coffee with some milk and chocolate syrup? I hadn’t and boy is it good!

I practiced flexibility.

Oh, so I couldn’t eat a snack at 1 because I would be hanging with somebody and wasn’t comfortable eating with them yet? I’d eat at 12 or when I came back. Or I’d pack a snack if I wasn’t comfortable with buying something yet.

I let myself rest when my new life was too much.

I remember one instance my family went to visit some friends and I simply could not eat with them. This was ok. I at least got there. That was a step in itself.

I practiced coping skills even when I was tired of them.

3-point check? Boom. Hobby? Boom. Gratitude list? Boom. Telling someone? Boom. Sitting with discomfort and letting it naturally come down? Boom.

I found new hobbies to fill the emptiness this mourning of transition brought

I hope this helps! It surely helped regulate my recovery. Little things add up.

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